I'm thinking of either renewing my DSL or getting cable. Now suddenly the DSL is offering this new high speed when I had what I thought was the highest at 608 kpb. Can you really get that speed through a phone line because that's like the same or better as cable?

Copper is being replaced by fiber optic cable (same as the cable company uses). Verizon FIOS is a fast service. Disclaimer: I do not use dsl, I'm a cable broadband subscriber. If your service is offered by Verizon, search for FIOS to see about the speeds.

Assuming there are no problems with the connection between the xDSL modem at your end and the DSLAM (the device terminating the connection) at the telco's end, you should be able to 6Mbps or even faster connection between the two devices. One thing to keep in mind is that does not mean all connections will benefit from the increased speed since the limiting factor may not be the connection between the telco and your computer.

A friend of mine got a DSL hookup here in the same subdivision where I live. (but 2 miles closer to the switch)
To get the max speed, which he was paying for, the phone company had to "Prune" the lines, cutting off all the branches to his line that went off down all the side roads between the 'switch' and his house. After five or six trips to his place, by phone techs, he finally got what he'd been paying for all along.

The phone Co. tells me I'm too far from the 'switch' to get DSL at all.
So, here I sit, thankfull that I do get decent Dial-UP.

Thank You, "Atlantic.net", for a great dial up connection that never says, "Goodby" or hangs up on me.

I live less than a 1000 feet from the switch and already get the the max speed they used to offer:

608 Kbps (downstream)
384 Kbps (upstream)

AT & T bought them out and now they offer that speed. I thought I had heard some years back that DSL couldn't go as fast as cable broadband and I also thought it was interesting that now all the sudden they can offer that speed. I guess I'll see what I get on September 6. Anything in the Mbp range would amaze me. I just hoping the phone lines in my building are up to date.

I caught my phone man out here on the street one day and inquired about getting DSL. He told me "what we can't do today, we may be able to do tomorrow".
Time marches inexorably ON and things change. Equipment gets upgraded to better equipment and communication speeds increase.

I call my phone Co. once a month to remind them that "I WANT DSL!"
One day, they will say "OK". I just know it.
Well, I pray for it anyway.

I don't know anyone that has the 6meg high speed DSL service, I have the fastest DSL Bellsouth service along with Comcast cable and the cable is twice as fast.
I've called and called Bellsouth (about the advertised) 6meg DSL and all they can say is --- it will be here one day if the demand warrants it.